Advice for freelancers on Working Holiday Visa - tax!

Sam King
Filmmaker
3 February 2017

Hi everyone,

I believe the time coming to submit a tax return is coming up (16th March is the deadline?) and having been here for 4 months, I'm still a little unsure as to what I need to do for my tax.

I have been told by some that my tax will have already been deducted by my employers on jobs I have worked, and so I don't need to worry. But on some occasions I'm not sure that tax has been deducted from my fee, and if so will I be expected to pay tax on this?

On top of this I'm not even sure where to start with submitting a tax return! If anyone has any experience on submitting one or dealing with tax on the working holiday visa then please let me know.

Many thanks!

Sam

George Popescu
Photographer
3 February 2017

It depends on how long you have actually worked in the past year, if you've been here for 4 months it means you've worked only 3 months for the past year however you're not a resident here so I'm not sure if you even have to do a tax refund this year.

If you have been in Japan for a full year in 2016 and have worked part time or full time during that year then you must file a tax return, but if you're here for only 1 year on a working holiday visa and last year you worked only 3 months you probably don't need to file a tax return at all.

If you do have to file one then you have to go to your ward office and ask where the tax return office is for that ward, but you need a MyNumber card from the Japanese government to be able to file at tax return, and if you don't have that then you won't be able to file a tax return at all.

I am not sure if MyNumber cards are issued to people that are here only for a 1-year working/holiday visa.

Emil Bardh
Motion Graphics Designer
3 February 2017

https://www.canvas.co.com/topics/31 migh be intresting to read and the links i pasted.

Emil Bardh
Motion Graphics Designer
3 February 2017

Also if you are american ( im not ) you might need to pay some taxes back home to, not shure how that works to ..

Sam King
Filmmaker
6 February 2017

Thanks Emil! Those links are really helpful!

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